Shoveling snow and back pain

Shoveling snow can cause back pain due to the weight of the snow. You’re bending over to shovel the snow and then throwing the snow which causes back pain. Here are some things you can do to relieve the pain:

  • Stretch: Stretching will help to relieve the tension in your muscles and joints which will help to reduce pain. 
  • Cold and heat therapy: You can alternate using cold and heat therapy to help alleviate the pain. Cold therapy is typically used for the first few days of pain and then is switched to heat therapy. Cold and heat therapy helps to reduce inflammation.
  • Take breaks: Buffalo gets a lot of snow and it would be a lot to shovel it all at once. You should take breaks between shoveling so you can give your back a rest and warm up.